A different “new look” Gillingham showed resolve to come from behind to edge AFC Wimbledon in front of another big crowd at Priestfield.
After dominating recent home games, Neil Harris’ side dug deep and recovered going a goal down to Ali Al-Hamadi’s curler just after the break, to come from behind to claim the three points.
Max Ehmer was quickest to react from Nik Tanev’s fine save to score his first goal his first of the season, and then Cheye Alexander’s rocket into the bottom corner sealed the comeback and the Gills’ fourth home win on the bounce, taking them seven points clear of the relegation zone and eleven from the division’s foot – a truly remarkable turnaround considering not too long ago Harris’ side were themselves seven points adrift of safety.
Kasey McAteer was fractionally wide with a deflected early drive that wrong footed Glenn Morris which Tzanev made a fine save as he managed to touch Alex MacDonald’s shot onto the frame of the goal.
Harris was forced into two changes before the break as Tim Dieng (after a clash of heads with Alex Woodyard) and Tom Nichols (ankle) as the Gills injury woes began to rear its ugly head again.
The home side so nearly were behind at the break but Morris was at his best to keep out Harry Pell’s header – the Priestfield crowd aired their views on Pell’s challenge on MacDonald but nothing was given.
MacDonald himself then almost gave the Gills the half time lead but the visitors’ cross bar kept out his shot.
Al-Hamadi beat the Gills offside appeals to curl the ball home seven minutes after the break to give the visitors the lead as they looked to extend their remarkable record at Priestfield of just one defeat in eight previous visits.
But home base really is becoming a Fortress in 2023, and so it was to prove again as within fourteen minutes of going behind, the Gills were in front. Ehmer reacted quickest after Tzanev’s fine save to keep out Shaun Williams’ header and just eight minutes after that Alexander’s awesome volley flew past Tzanev and into the bottom corner – a glorious way for the former Dons defender to open his scoring account in front of the adoring Rainham End.
Substitute Aiden O’Brien went close to adding a third before the visitors almost grabbed a late point but Morris was equal to Jack Currie’s late effort and at the final whistle the majority of the seven and a half thousand gate roared their appreciation as their heroes secured their sixth win in the past eight games and the fourth at Fortress Priestfield, as they climbed to twentieth place.
Three points from Tuesday’s game with Bradford City will see the Gills rise to the “heady” heights of nineteenth and a full ten points ahead of the drop zone.
GILLINGHAM – Morris, Alexander, Ehmer, Masterson, Tutonda, Dieng (Williams 33), MacDonald (Wright 88), Jefferies, Lapslie, Nichols (O’Brien 42), Hawkins.
Subs not used – Turner, Adelakun, Gbode, Abrahams.
Goals: Ehmer (58), Alexander (66).
Booked: Masterson (6).
AFC WIMBLEDON – Tzanev, Gunter, Nightingale, Brown, Currie, Little, Woodyard (Chislett 72), McAteer (Janneh 77), Pell (Marsh 81), Al-Hamadi, Davison (Pearson 77).
Subs not used – Broome, Pierre.
Goal: Al-Hamadi (52).
Booked: Woodyard (45+5), Pell (62), Gunter (65), McAteer (75), Marsh (94).
REFEREE – Mr Neil Hair
Attendance: 7,453